בָּרוּךְ (ba.rukh)
ba.rukh
Baruch
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 23 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Baruch means "blessed" in Hebrew, derived from a passive participle that describes someone who has received favor or good fortune. It appears as a proper noun for several distinct figures in the biblical narrative, most notably as the close companion and scribe of the prophet Jeremiah.
Baruch served as Jeremiah’s faithful attendant, writing down the prophet’s words on a scroll (Jeremiah 36). He also assisted Nehemiah in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls as a priest, son of Zabbai, and signed the covenant renewal with the community. The name reflects a life marked by divine favor, whether through prophetic service or civic restoration.
Though brief in occurrence, Baruch’s presence highlights the value of faithful support in biblical history. His role as a scribe underscores the importance of preserving God’s message, while his priestly duties connect him to the rebuilding of Israel’s spiritual and physical foundations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Baruch means "blessed," reflecting a life marked by divine favor and faithful service. In the biblical narrative, this name belongs to several individuals who played crucial roles in preserving God's message and restoring the community. Most notably, Baruch served as the scribe for the prophet Jeremiah, faithfully recording the Lord’s words on scrolls despite the risks involved.
His story reminds us that being "blessed" often involves quiet obedience and support behind the scenes. Whether writing down prophetic warnings or helping rebuild Jerusalem’s walls, those named Baruch demonstrated that faithfulness in small tasks honors God. This name encourages us to value our own roles in supporting others and preserving truth, trusting that God sees and blesses such steadfastness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 23 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Baruch24×
- O Baruch1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- בָּר֔וּךְ5×
- בָּר֣וּךְ4×
- בָּר֖וּךְ4×
- בָּרוּךְ֙2×
- בָּר֥וּךְ2×
- בָּרֽוּךְ\׃1×
- בָּר֨וּךְ1×
- בָּר֜וּךְ1×
- בָּר֛וּךְ1×
- בָּר֗וּךְ1×
- בָר֥וּךְ1×
- בָר֛וּךְ1×
Key Verses
-
Jeremiah 36:4
Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all Yahweh’s words, which he had spoken to him, on a scroll of a book.
This verse establishes Baruch’s primary role as Jeremiah’s scribe, showing how he faithfully transcribed divine words into written form.
-
Jeremiah 36:8
Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book Yahweh’s words in Yahweh’s house.
Here Baruch demonstrates his obedience by reading the scroll in the temple, ensuring the people heard God’s message directly.
-
Nehemiah 3:20
After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
This occurrence highlights a different Baruch who contributed to the physical restoration of Jerusalem, linking the name to civic duty and repair.
-
Jeremiah 45:1
The message that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he wrote these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,
In this personal message, God addresses Baruch directly, showing that even those in supportive roles receive individual encouragement from the Lord.